On the day the government announced cuts to focus on "bread and butter" issues, food prices reached a 34-year high. February's food prices were up 12 percent year on year - the largest annual increase since 1989.
Fruit and vegetable prices led the charge - up 23 percent.
Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says much of the increase can be put down to Cyclone Gabrielle's effect on key food-producing regions.
